Dear reader,
‘Een volk dat leeft, bouwt aan zijn toekomst’ (A nation that lives, builds for its future). This hundred-year-old quote by the Dutch civil engineer and politician Cornelis Lely remains topical. We are more aware than ever of how we humans influence the future with our actions. Lely, a civil engineer with a broad scientific background, was inducted into the Alumni Walk of Fame in 2017 for his exceptional career, in particular his role as minister of Water Management and his Zuiderzeewerken plan. Although the reclamation of the Zuiderzee had been discussed for centuries, Lely was the first to present a technically feasible and socioeconomically viable plan.
The 'nation' Lely is referring to consists of various groups: citizens, entrepreneurs, farmers, administrators and more. They are building the future together. A civil engineer, Lely did probably not choose the verb 'build' by chance. He meant both figuratively by building with words and literally by building with deeds. Lely was praised for his ability to create broad support for technically complex plans thanks to his substantive knowledge and administrative qualities.
In the Netherlands, 2023 was characterised, among other things, by tense elections for the House of Representatives. Citizens are hoping for a government that, like Lely, builds a bright future for the Netherlands both literally and figuratively; an administration that recognises the challenges and outlines a future that is achievable and affordable for all citizens. This also concerns major challenges in the field of climate and the environment, and more specifically livestock farming, namely animal health and welfare.
In a society where ideology often appears to dominate, our wonderful agrifood sector is continually under attack. Major, often unsubstantiated systemic changes, are proposed with regularity. For the basic necessities of life, such as healthcare, education and food production, there are calls to only implement systemic changes that lead to demonstrable improvements, considered from the perspective of an integral as well as international context. This is how we build a long-term policy that is based on facts rather than populism and unrealistic pipe dreams intended only for the Netherlands.
‘A company that lives, builds for its future!’
As a link in the food chain, the VanDrie Group is socially accountable for themes such as sustainability, animal health, animal welfare, food safety and good employment practices. 2023 is a transitional year in which we are preparing for sustainability reporting in accordance with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).
The VanDrie Group, like many agricultural businesses, is a wonderful family business where we are building on our valuable food production chain in a transparent way. At the same time, we are working on a long-term strategy that is based on facts. In 2023, we applied our knowledge and expertise to contribute to the action plan of the Dutch Veal Industry Association (Stichting Brancheorganisatie Kalversector, SBK) entitle 'Veal Forward'.It clarifies how the sector is addressing existing challenges and building a sustainable future in a solution-oriented way.
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From this viewpoint, I would like to thank our customers, suppliers and partners for the enjoyable collaboration with the VanDrie Group in 2023. Special thanks go to my colleagues, domestically and internationally, who have made an important contribution to our success. Together, we continue to build, in words and deeds, on the favourable position of our impressive family business and a sustainable future for the sector as a whole.
A company that lives, builds for its future!
I hope you enjoy reading this report!
Ruth Bouwstra
Director Corporate Affairs and Quality
31 July 2024
Questions or comments can be sent to contact@vandriegroup.com
